Dinner & dance to help struggling veterans

March 12, 2014

Helping military veterans because of their dedicated service to this country is all Americans Write for Prosperity wants to do. The newly formed organization's first fund-raising effort takes place Saturday, March 15, at the Italian American Club on Vincennes Boulevard.

The fund-raiser for the "Men, Women and Children of the Military" hopes to raise money to help local military veterans who need help with food, housing and medical expenses right here in Cape Coral.

"We have partnered with the Invest in American Veterans Foundation on Cape Coral Parkway for this event," said Americans Write for Prosperity's Jude Onzo. "We work with a veterans' specialty officer with the foundation to verify a veteran's need. Spending the money locally is a big key because there are so many on a waiting list that's just unacceptable."

Tickets to the event, which includes an appetizer hour, dinner buffet, live entertainment, dancing, a duet performance, guitarist and a six-piece band and DJs early in the evening, cost $45 per person. Tickets are still available online and Onzo said response has been positive so far.

"We want to get an accurate head count for how many people will be attending," Onzo said. "So, we are steering everyone to the website for tickets. We want to be able to guarantee 200 people, but we don't want to turn people away at the door."

Proceeds go to supplying the basic tools needed to succeed in life for the brave men and women who took an oath to protect the freedom of everyone living in American and around the world by pledging their life in serving this country.

"Now is the time for everyone living in American to take an oath, an oath to help and protect America's military in return for our freedom," said Onzo.

Doors to the Italian American Club, 4725 Vincennes Blvd., open at 6 p.m. with the entertainment and enjoyment lasting until midnight.

"Our name has w-r-i-t-e in it for a purpose," said Onzo. "It's the home of the essay contest where we give prizes to the best essays."

It's the first of perhaps many fund-raising events to be put on by Americans Write for Prosperity in the future.